ROBBERECHT GEERT REMY ANTOON (BE)
DE LANDTSHEER STEFAAN HENRI MA (BE)
ROBBERECHT GEERT REMY ANTOON (BE)
WO2004011249A1 | 2004-02-05 | |||
WO2004011755A1 | 2004-02-05 |
US2298874A | 1942-10-13 | |||
EP1859931A1 | 2007-11-28 | |||
DE19958372C1 | 2001-01-25 | |||
DE29518081U1 | 1996-01-18 | |||
EP1170513A2 | 2002-01-09 |
Claims 1. Panel consisting substantially of layered glass for a door or window construction, comprising: - at least two glass sheets adapted to form a layered glass; and - an accessory of metal, characterized in that at least one plastic interlayer is arranged between the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and between the accessory and at least one of the at least two glass sheets on the other, this such that the at least one interlayer forms an adhesive connection for the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and forms an adhesive connection between the accessory and at least one of the at least two glass sheets on the other. 2. Panel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one plastic interlayer is one of the following materials: a plate, typically of an ionoplastic material; a film, typically a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) film or an EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) film; a moulding resin. 3. Panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the accessory is one of the following elements: a rotary shoe, a locking shoe, a corner connection, a connecting piece, a corner lock, a stop. 4. Panel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the at least two glass sheets are provided with a recess for the accessory. 5. Panel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the accessory is provided with a connecting flange which protrudes between two of the at least two glass sheets, which connecting flange is connected in each case to the opposite glass sheet by a plastic interlayer. 6. Panel as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the connecting flange has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the interlayer or a multiple thereof . 7. Panel as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a first, a second (middle) and a third interlayer are arranged between a first and a second glass sheet of the at least two glass sheets, wherein the second middle interlayer is provided with a recess for the connecting flange such that the first and third interlayers fix the connecting flange between the first and second glass sheet. 8. Panel as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the thickness of the connecting flange is equal to the thickness of the interlayer, and that one interlayer of the at least one interlayer arranged between the glass sheets is provided with a recess for receiving the connecting flange. 9. Panel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the accessory is a rotary shoe comprising a functional part for receiving elements for the rotary shoe operation, this first part having a thickness which substantially corresponds to that of the panel, wherein the at least two glass sheets and the at least one interlayer arranged therebetween are provided with a corresponding recess for this first part. 10. Panel as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the functional part and the corresponding recess are substantially semicircular in a section parallel to the panel. 11. Panel as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the rotary shoe further has a connecting flange extending radially from the periphery of the functional part in a plane parallel to the panel. 12. Method for incorporating an accessory of metal into a panel consisting substantially of a layered glass with at least two glass plates adapted to form a layered glass, characterized in that - at least one interlayer is arranged between the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and between the accessory and at least one of the at least two glass sheets on the other, which interlayer is manufactured from a material which can adhere to both glass and metal, after which the assembly of the at least two glass sheets and interlayers is subjected to a treatment for obtaining one layered whole. 13. Method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that prior to arranging of the at least one interlayer, the at least two glass sheets are provided with a recess and that the accessory is placed in this recess with interposing of at least one interlayer. 14. Method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the recess is arranged in the assembly by cutting. 15. Method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the accessory is formed with a connecting flange which runs parallel to the plane of the panel, and that the connecting flange is arranged between two glass sheets of the at least two glass sheets, in each case with interposing of an interlayer. 16. Method as claimed in any of the claims 12-15, characterized in that an ionoplastic plate material or a film material is selected for the at least one interlayer, and that the treatment consists of a laminating treatment, wherein the at least one interlayer is adhered to the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and to the accessory on the other. 17. Method as claimed in any of the claims 12-15, characterized in that a moulding resin is selected for the at least one interlayer, and that the at least two glass sheets and the accessory are held in a desired position, after which the moulding resin is arranged, wherein the treatment for obtaining one layered whole consists of allowing the moulding resin to cure. 18. Accessory for use in a panel as claimed in any of the claims 1-11, provided with a connecting flange which can be inserted between two glass sheets of the panel, wherein the connecting flange has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of an interlayer of the at least one interlayer used to mutually adhere the glass sheets of the panel, or to a multiple thereof. |
The present invention relates to a panel consisting substantially of layered glass, in particular for a door or window construction, with at least two glass sheets adapted to form a layered glass, in particular a hardened safety glass, having arranged therein an accessory, such as a rotary shoe, of metal. The invention further relates to a method for incorporating such an accessory into a layered glass construction.
Laminated or layered safety glass is often used in windows and doors of buildings. Safety glass consists typically of two sheets of glass attached to each other by means of a polymer film. In the case of an impact it is the function of the film to absorb the impact energy and to hold the broken glass together. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) has usually been used in the past for the intermediate film. It has recently been discovered by DuPont however that an ionoplastic material in the form of a stiff plate has a great number of advantages for adhesive connection of two sheets of glass. These ionoplastic plates are sold by DuPont under the brand name Sentry Glass Plus (SGP) .
When such layered and optionally hardened glass is used for doors and/or windows, accessories such as rotary shoes (upper and lower rotary shoes) , connecting pieces and the like generally have to be built into the window or door panel. For this purpose the accessories are generally provided in the form of clamps which are clamped at the side of a panel onto the glass.
The present invention has for its object to provide a panel in which the accessories are incorporated in a convenient, aesthetic and efficient manner, and to provide a method with which metal pieces can be attached in efficient manner to a glass construction .
The invention is distinguished for this purpose in that at least one plastic interlayer is arranged between the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and between the accessory and at least one of the at least two glass sheets on the other, this such that the at least one interlayer forms an adhesive connection between the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and forms an adhesive connection between the accessory and at least one of the at least two glass sheets on the other.
In this way an accessory can be built into a panel of layered glass in a very efficient manner, wherein the accessory can be adhered using the same technique as that used to mutually adhere the glass sheets of the panel themselves.
Advantageous embodiments of the panel according to the invention are described in the dependent claims 2-11.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one plastic interlayer is chosen from one of the following materials: a plate material, typically an ionoplastic plate material; a film, typically a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) film or an EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) film; a moulding resin. Several ionoplastic plate materials have heretofore been known which can be adhered well to both glass and metal, are transparent and guarantee safe breaking of the glass. The skilled person will however appreciate that any material which is suitable for producing a layered glass and which can be adhered to both glass and metal likewise falls within the scope of the invention. It is anticipated that films and moulding resins will be developed in the future which are suitable for producing a layered glass and which also have good adhesion properties in respect of metals .
According to possible embodiments, the accessory is one of the following elements: a rotary shoe, a locking shoe, a corner connection, a connecting piece, a corner lock, a stop, a metal mounting. This may for instance be a connecting piece between glass panels or between a glass panel and a wall, or a connecting piece between a door and a slide rail. The metal mounting can for instance be a mounting with lock and bolt. According to a preferred embodiment, the at least two glass sheets are provided with a recess for the accessory, this such that the accessory can be wholly received in the surface of the panel. In a preferred embodiment the accessory thus has a thickness roughly corresponding to the final thickness of the panel, so that no parts protrude outward.
For a firm connection of the accessory in the panel the accessory is preferably provided with a connecting flange which protrudes between two of the at least two glass sheets and which is connected to these two glass sheets by interposing an interlayer in each case. According to an option which is particularly useful for plate- like interlayers, the connecting flange has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the interlayer or to a multiple thereof, such that between the two glass sheets between which the connecting flange protrudes a plurality of interlayers can be placed for mutually adhering the two glass sheets on the one hand and the accessory and each glass sheet on the other. According to another option, a layer of the glass sheet is cut away locally at the position of the connecting flange such that an additional interlayer can be provided locally between the connecting flange of the accessory and the glass sheet lying opposite.
The present invention can be applied particularly for the purpose of mounting a rotary shoe in a panel for a door of safety glass, but can for instance also be applied for connecting pieces for the purpose of connecting a fixed panel to a wall or for a suspension clamp for hanging a sliding door.
In the case of a rotary shoe (which can be a lower or upper rotary shoe) , this typically has a first functional part for receiving the elements which provide for the rotary shoe operation, this first part having a thickness which preferably corresponds substantially to that of the panel, wherein the at least two glass sheets of the panel and the at least one interlayer arranged therebetween are provided with a corresponding recess for this first part, this such that the rotary shoe is wholly received in the surface of the panel. According to an advantageous embodiment, the functional part is substantially semicircular in a section parallel to the panel. The recess to be cut in the glass sheets is in this case likewise substantially semicircular. The skilled person will however appreciate that numerous other forms are possible.
The rotary shoe preferably further has a connecting flange extending from the periphery of the functional part in a plane parallel to the panel. This connecting flange can be received between two of the at least two glass sheets of the panel. As described above, the rotary shoe can in this way be secured in the panel by making use of for instance three interlayers between the two glass sheets of the panel between which the connecting flange is arranged. The method according to the invention is distinguished in that
- at least one interlayer is arranged between the two glass sheets on the one hand and between the accessory and at least one of the two glass sheets on the other, which interlayer has suitable dimensions and is manufactured from a material which can adhere to both glass and metal by lamination; and that the assembly of the at least two glass sheets and interlayers is subjected to a treatment for obtaining one layered whole .
Note that the at least one interlayer between the accessory and at least one of the two glass sheets relates not only to a structure in which an interlayer is placed between a glass edge of the recess and the accessory, but also to a structure in which a part of the accessory protrudes between the two glass sheets and this part is connected to a glass sheet by interposing of an interlayer.
In this way accessories of metal can be firmly attached in a door or window panel using a very simple method.
Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are described in the dependent claims 13 to 17. When an ionoplastic plate material or a film material is selected as material for the at least one interlayer, a laminating treatment is then preferably performed wherein the at least one interlayer is adhered to the at least two glass sheets on the one hand and to the accessory on the other in an autoclave at increased pressure and temperature. According to another possibility, a moulding resin is used for the at least one interlayer. According to such process, the at least two glass sheets and the accessory are held in a desired position, typically making use of spacers, after which the moulding resin is arranged. The moulding resin is then allowed to cure, wherein the panel is typically placed in a horizontal position before allowing the whole to cure.
According to a preferred embodiment, the accessory is formed with a connecting flange which runs parallel to the plane of the panel and which is arranged between two glass sheets of the assembly, in each case with interposing of an interlayer. According to a further developed embodiment, the connecting flange is given a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the interlayer such that three interlayers can be provided between the two glass sheets, the middle interlayer of which has a recess for the connecting flange, this such that the connecting flange can be adhered using the two other interlayers to the corresponding glass sheets . In the zones of the panel not comprising an accessory the glass sheets are then adhered to each other by means of three interlayers .
Finally, the invention relates to an accessory for use in a panel or a method according to the invention, this accessory being provided with a connecting flange which can be inserted between two glass sheets of the panel, wherein the connecting flange has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of an interlayer of the at least one interlayer used to mutually adhere the glass sheets of the panel, or to a multiple thereof. The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a number of non- limitative exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rotary shoe; Figure 2A shows a longitudinal section of a part of a door construction through the plane of the door panel, this door panel comprising a rotary shoe according to the invention;
Figure 2B shows a cross-section along line HB of figure 2A; Figures 3A-3C show respectively a longitudinal section, a bottom view and a cross-section along line IHC of an upper rotary shoe according to the invention;
Figures 4A-4C show respectively a longitudinal section, a bottom view and a cross-section along line IVC of a lower rotary shoe according to the invention; Figure 5 illustrates the method according to the invention on the basis of a section along line HB of figure 2A during the different steps of the method;
Figures 6A- 6C illustrate a second embodiment of an accessory according to the invention received in a panel; Figures 7A-7B illustrate a third embodiment of an accessory according to the invention received in a panel; and
Figures 8A-C illustrate a fourth embodiment of a panel with an accessory according to the invention.
In a door construction of layered and hardened safety glass use is typically made of an upper and lower rotary shoe arranged respectively in an upper and lower corner of a door panel . A perspective view of such a rotary shoe 1 in an embodiment according to the invention is shown in figure 1. Figures 3A-3C show respectively a longitudinal section, a cross-section and a bottom view of a lower rotary shoe, while figures 4A-4C show the same views for an upper rotary shoe. Rotary shoe 1 comprises a functional part 2 and a connecting flange 3. As shown in figures 2A and 2B, rotary shoe 1 is received in a door panel 4.
The functional part 2 has a semicircular section in a plane parallel to the plane of door panel 4. Connecting flange 3 extends radially in this plane from the periphery of part 2 and is intended to be received between two glass sheets 5 , 6 of the door panel, as can be seen in figure 2B. Figures 2A and 2B further show a block 7 which is received in the ground and intended for co-action with the rotary shoe. Block 7 comprises for instance a floor spring. In the case of a rotary shoe at the top of a door, wherein the block is provided at the top of the door, this block typically comprises a lintel spring. It is further also possible to provide a floor spindle without hydraulic mechanism instead of a spring.
How the door panel with rotary shoe as shown in figure 2A is made will now be elucidated with reference to figure 5. In a first step (A) two glass sheets 5, 6 and three interlayers 10, 11, 12 are selected. The interlayers are preferably manufactured from an ionoplastic material, for instance an ionoplastic material sold by DuPont under the name Sentry Glass Plus, which material guarantees safe breaking of the glass, has an improved impact performance and can be adhered to both glass and metal . Reference is made to the literature for other advantages of this material.
In a following step (B) the rotary shoe is formed with a connecting flange 3 having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of intermediate plate 11. In a third step ® a semicircular recess 13 is cut into glass sheets 5 and 6 and into intermediate plates 10 and 12 for the purpose of receiving therein the semicircular part 2 of rotary shoe 1. A semicircular recess 14 is further arranged in the middle intermediate plate 11 for the purpose of receiving connecting flange 3 therein. The "sandwich" of glass sheets 5,6, intermediate plates 10 to 12 and accessory 1 is then constructed as shown in step (D) , wherein rotary shoe 1 is received in recess 13 and the connecting flange protrudes into recess 14 between glass sheets 5, 6. This preferably takes place in a space with a low content of contaminating particles, and the glass sheets, intermediate plates and the accessory are preferably cleaned before constructing the sandwich structure.
The "sandwich" is now layered, whereby an adhesive connection results between on the one hand glass sheets 5 and 6 and on the other between connecting flange 3 and glass sheet 5 and between connecting flange 3 and glass sheet 6. This typically takes place in an autoclave at an increased pressure and temperature .
A number of other exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated with reference to figures 6-8.
Figure 6C shows an accessory 61 with a functional part 62 and a connecting flange 63. Connecting flange 63 has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of interlayer 67 which is used to connect glass sheets 65 and 66 to each other, see figure 6A. The following operations take place for the purpose of realizing this embodiment:
- two glass sheets 65, 66 and one interlayer 67 with dimensions substantially corresponding to those of the final panel are selected; - cut into glass sheets 65, 66 is a recess with dimensions corresponding to those of accessory 61. Additional recesses 60, 64 are further cut into glass sheets 65, 66, these recesses 60,
64 being intended to extend on either side of connecting flange 63 for the purpose of receiving additional interlayers 68, 69 therein as shown in figure 6A and 6B.
Use is thus made in this embodiment of only one interlayer
67 between glass sheets 65 and 66, and additional interlayers
68 and 69 are used to adhere connecting flange 63 to glass sheets
65 and 66. This variant will be particularly suitable when very thick glass sheets 65 and 66 are used, these thicknesses allowing the glass sheet to be given a thinner form locally, and particularly at the position of recesses 60, 64.
Figures 7A and B illustrate a third embodiment variant in which an accessory with a thickness corresponding to the thickness of one glass sheet must be built into a door or window panel. According to this variant, a recess is arranged in only- one glass sheet 76 for receiving accessory 71 therein - see the cross-section of the panel shown in figure 7A. Accessory 71 (figure 7B shows a perspective view) can then be readily adhered to glass sheet 75 using interlayer 77 which is placed between glass sheets 75 and 76 in order to adhere these to each other. Finally, figures 8A-C illustrate a fourth embodiment variant of an accessory 81 with a thickness substantially corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the two glass sheets 85 and 86 and the thickness of interlayer 87. In order to build accessory 81, of which figure 8B shows a perspective view, into panel 84 a substantially rectangular recess is cut into glass sheets 85 and 87 for receiving accessory 81 therein, see the longitudinal section of panel 84 shown in figure 8C. Interlayers 88, 89 and 90 are further provided for the purpose of fixing accessory 81 into the recess arranged in panel 84 - see figure 8C and figure 8A which show a cross-section of panel 84. After arranging of interlayers 87-90 the whole is layered such that the metal accessory 81 is adhered to glass sheets 85 and 86 on the one hand, and glass sheets 85, 86 are mutually adhered by means of interlayer 87 on the other.
The skilled person will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiments, and that numerous other variants fall within the scope of the invention, this scope being defined solely by the appended claims. The skilled person will thus appreciate that the accessories need not necessarily be located at a bottom or top side of the panel, but can be arranged at a random location in the panel using the method according to the invention. The skilled person will further appreciate that, depending on the thicknesses of the glass sheets used and the size of the accessory, a connecting flange may or may not be necessary.
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